
Getting lost inside the labyrinth at Phsar Chas (Old Market)… …window-shopping or bargaining is a lot of fun here
Dates visited: December 21, 2014 – December 24, 2014
My entry into Cambodia and exit out of Cambodia from Siem Reap International Airport was memorable but for the wrong reasons! On both occasions, the immigration officers while stamping my passport asked me for a tip! “Do you have any US dollars for me?” is what one officer asked on my way in and “I help you and you help me,” is what the officer said to me on my way out… …both occasions, I just said no and walked away after getting the passport stamped. I felt sorry (for the immigration officer) when I entered Cambodia but disgusted (at the immigration officers) when I exited since I did not encounter any such corruption or dishonesty during my stay in Cambodia. Such idiots exist in all parts of the world (though I have never experienced this at the port of entry/exit in any of the 20+ countries I have visited prior to coming here), but thankfully, I have far better memories of the people and places I visited in Cambodia.
Siem Reap is a base city to see Angkor Wat and the rest of the temples, but it has developed into having its own character. We just loved Phsar Chas (Old Market) which is a market operating since the French colonization days. This hectic, lively and busy area is the heart of Siem Reap, and makes for a great spot for people watching as it is frequented by locals as well as tourists. This place has enough activity to keep you engaged for hours and hours—silver goods, food carts, jewelry, grocery stores, silk products, cafes, pharmacies, restaurants, elephant pants shops (comfy baggy pants with elephant designs worn by tourists throughout Southeast Asia), wood carvings, pubs and more!
But what you cannot miss in the Old Market area are the abundant massage parlors with their eye-popping rates… …$2 for a 15-30 mins foot massage! I had been a massage virgin until now just because I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of a total stranger touching me (yes, yes, after years of trying to convince me to go for a massage in the US, even Prachi concluded that I have issues). But after a 11-hour temple tour (starting with the sunrise view over Angkor Wat), my body literally dragged me to a massage parlor and treated itself to a Khmer body massage. Prachi and I signed up for the couples’ session (I needed a morale boost) but as soon as the new-age music started and the massage lady climbed on me to do her magic, I was in Angkor heaven all by myself! By the end of 60 mins and a well-spent $10, my masseuse had introduced me to muscles I never knew existed! And from then onwards, I was a massage pro, never giving up an opportunity to get at least a foot massage until the last day of my Southeast Asia vacation.
One of Rohan’s highlights from the trip was the pottery class he did at Khmer Ceramic & Fine Arts Centre. He was excited to get hands-on experience behind the potter’s wheel—starting with a ball of clay and ending with a glazed pot—the vase and bowl are his favorite souvenirs from the trip.
- Mr. Sokji in his pimped-out Batmobile Tuk-tuk… …he probably fights crime as well while plying his tuk-tuk!
- Apsara dancers perform Reamker (the Cambodian version of the Indian classic, the Ramayana)… …here, Krong Reap (King Ravana) kidnaps Neang Seda (Princess Sita)
- That’s not Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze; just the pottery instructor and Rohan getting their hands dirty at Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre!
- No distractions, no attachments; just a single-minded focus to get to their destination
- Locals at Phsar Chas (Old market)
- Talented artists at Phare, the Cambodian Circus—the circus provides employment to Cambodian youth from difficult social and economic backgrounds
- At the Angkor Silk Farm… …boiling cocoons to extract the silk strands
- Got Silk? Fashionably dressed up in silk to sell silk
- Apsara dancers perform Reamker (the Cambodian version of the Indian classic, the Ramayana)… …shown here are Preah Ream (Prince Rama) and Preah Leak (Prince Lakshmana)
- Every single manageable space is taken up by vendors in Phsar Chas (Old market)
- “Angkor What?” bar was the first pub to open up in 1998… …they proudly proclaim “promoting irresponsible drinking since 1998”
- Moving his delicately transformed clay piece from the pottery wheel… …he just loved the pottery class at at Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre!
- Anyone hungry for some fried crickets, grilled tarantulas and roasted snakes?
- Enjoying their feet getting nibbled by “garra rufa” (aka doctor fish)… …these pedicure tanks are found everywhere in the Old Market area
- At the Angkor Silk Farm… …dyed raw silk
- Pub Street in the Old Market area becomes the top destination after dark… …as the name indicates, it is packed with pubs and restaurants!
- With his art pieces at at Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre
- Smile and say S-I-L-K at the Angkor Silk Farm
- At Phsar Chas (Old market)… …Gee, I wonder what this shop specializes in!!
- Talented artists at Phare, the Cambodian Circus—the circus provides employment to Cambodian youth from difficult social and economic backgrounds